Chapter 8

Jason and Joshua had been able to overpower their captors, Willy, and Bob with the help of Olaf also had been able to get away. Bob had been cut on the arm but was okay. They met in a back alley of the shipping docks.

"I am glad to see you are all okay. Olaf, thank you for your help!" Jason said. Joshua was helping Willy with Bob's arm and they were ready to do anything.

"How are we going to get Jeremy out?" Joshua asked Jason.

"I don't know yet, let's go find out just what is happening." Said Jason as they headed silently through back alleys and streets until they came to where the jail was. There were some sounds of sleeping. Jason had Olaf, who was a head taller than he was, look through the jail cell windows to see if he could see anything.

"Mr. Bolt, I can see a small lady in one cot and cell, the other window is your brother." Said Olaf.

"Thank you, Olaf…," said Jason.

"You can call me 'Big swede' that is the name I go by. Olaf is too formal for friends!" Said Olaf (Big Swede).

Jason nodded and then said:

Okay, Joshua, can you and Willy go check on the sheriff and the judge. I want to stay here in case something happens while you are gone. They said yes and each went around the front, doing their best not to look suspicious. They were about to step out onto the main street when they heard a noise. They quickly stood behind the wall of the jail and waited until the sound was gone. Then they heard voices:

"Judge, do you think we can pull this off?" Asked the Sheriff.

"Coswell said it was pretty easy, and I have no doubt that he has been stringing this Bolt family along for quite a while in order to gain the mountain!

The sheriff nodded. The plan was that they would get rid of the younger brother, they had tried by using Miss Shelly but unfortunately it did not work. So, their plans were changed slightly in that they would get rid of her and the young boy. But now they wanted to get rid of Coswell too!

"So, what we need to do is to plant evidence that Coswell hired thugs to get rid of the Bolts, and we have Coswell sign over a deed to us that says we own the mountain!" We can kill Coswell saying it was in self-defense as he had already planned to get rid of the Bolts by selling them to the Crimpers!" said the judge certain that this plan would work perfectly.

"Come on, we have to meet Coswell and get that deed!" said the Judge.

They left and went to the office of the lawyer. Both Joshua and Willy looked at each other.

"Willy, you go back and tell Jason what we heard, I am going to see what is happening with Coswell." Joshua said. Willy went back to where Jason and the others were. When Jason heard this, he decided to head to the attorney's office as well. When he got there, he saw Joshua sitting in the bushes.

"Joshua!" Jason whispered. Joshua nodded and pointed to the window.

"Well, Coswell, have you made up your mind to sign this deed over to us? We could let you live but you might have to move to a new location such as the Indian tribes! I know a few who would love to have a new member!" said the judge.

Coswell sat at the table, he did not want to sign the deed, he realized too late that he was in over his head. The judge and the sheriff had already set the wheels in motion for the hanging and shooting. The time for that was fast approaching. Joshua motioned to Jason to go back aways from the house so that they could talk.

"So, you say that the judge and sheriff have already set the gallows and that Jeremy is going to be hanged, and what about the girl.

"Jason, I remember her. Remember when a family came through, Da was still alive then! They were looking for a place to settle and while they were talking to DA, Jeremy and I were playing with the sister and brother?"

Jason looked at Joshua and said:

"Vaguely, I think I was working at that time, so I wasn't home." Said Jason.

"You probably were. Anyway, that girl is Miss Shelly, the one who served the drinks and tried to get Jeremy and Frank killed. I don't know why, but I think we need to rescue her as well!"

Jason looked at his brother, he weighed the pros, and cons and then said:

"If we can, I am sure that if Jeremy remembers he will want to help her as well." Said Jason and then he said,

"We need to formulate a plan. Willy, Bob, I need the two of you to do this…" and he set about making a plan. Mr. Coswell had been killed. The Sheriff had planted some poison in his drink, and he died quickly after the signing the false deed. The judge and the sheriff both had one of their henchmen take the body out and bury it. They would have a story later about what happened to the lawyer and if they had they could contest any claims legally. Or so he thought. Jason had already made contingencies so that if something happened, he and his brothers would not lose the mountain.

The next day, Joshua disguised himself as one of the jailors/hangmen and brought the food to Jeremy and Miss Shelly. He had observed that they remembered each other so his guess was correct. He let Jason know this so they could be prepared to rescue both of them. Jason had donned the hangman's mask and was there on the platform. Bob was under the platform as one of the hangman's assistant and Joshua had set himself as one of the shooters directly opposite the girl.

All was in place for the hanging. The Judge and the Sheriff both stood and watched. They had not noticed that there were a couple extra men around. But they really did not deal directly with the hangman or his assistants.

The signal was given, and the trap was freed and there was a shot that rang out but was not heard on the other side of the fence.